Surgical needle



y 1966 G. J. HOHNSTEIN 3,249,104

SURGICAL NEEDLE Filed June 21, 1963 as 26 FIG. ll

INVENTOR GEORGE J. HOHNSTEIN BUCKHORN, BLORE,KLARQUIST B SPARKMAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,249,104 SURGICAL NEEDLE George J. Hohnstein, 3404 SW. Primrose St., Portland, Orcg. Filed June 21, 1963, Ser. No. 289,535 6 Claims. (Cl. 128-339) The present invention relates to an improved sewing needle and more particularly to an eyeless surgical needle having clamping jaws at the blunt end thereof for grip-' ping a length of fascia-lata tissue or thread.

It is desirable to use a single strand of fascia-lata tissue or other thread attached to a surgical needle for making sutures in order to reduce the bulk of a double strand. Consequently, surgical needles having various means for retaining a single thread strand have been devised, one of which comprises a pair of pivotal jaws adjacent the blunt end of the needle.

While jaws can provide high gripping strength when closed together tightly, the jaws previously proposed lack suitable means for maintaining a tight grip on the thread in compression when the needle is in use, thus making possible thread slippage. Such previously proposed jaws can also be opened accidentally by a wrong movement of the surgeons hand when the needle is in use with possible serious consequences.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved sewing needle having jaws at one end thereof for retaining a strand of thread, which jaws are positively locked together to grip the thread when the needle is in use and which cannot be opened by hand to release the thread.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved surgical needle having jaws at one end thereof for gripping a strand of thread, which jaws exert a positive, continuous pressure on the thread gripped therebetween when the needle is in use.

Still another, more specific object of the invention is to provide a new and improved needle including a pair of jaws for retaining a single strand of thread and a detent locking means for locking such jaws together, which locking means cannot be disengagedwithout mechanica aid. v

I A further object of the invention is to provide in combination, a needle having jaws for retaining thread, a detent means on the needle for locking the jaws together when the needle is in use.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily ascertained from inspection of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, while the features of novelty will be more distinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, on a slightly enlarged scale, of a needle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the needle of FIG. 1 in an open position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the jaw portion of the needle of FIG. 1 closed about a typical thread segment;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a modified form of locking means in accordance with the present invention;

' FIG. 6 is a plan view of a pair of forceps for opening the jaws of a needle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the jaw 3,249,104 Patented May 3, 1966 "ice end of the forceps of FIG. 6, showing, in cross section, the needle of FIG. 1 gripped between the forceps;

FIG. 8 is a partially diagrammatic view showing a modified form of needle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a further modifiction in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is :a sectional view through the jaw end of a further modification in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the jaw portion of the needle of FIG. 1.

First with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4, the surgical needle shown generally at 10 includes a sharp pointed end portion 12, an opposite blunt end portion 14 and a curved, thickened shank 16 of oval cross section tapering smoothly and gradually from the blunt end to the pointed end. As shown most clearly in FIG. 2 the shank 16 is split longitudinally into two sections of unequal length. The longer section 18 includes the pointed end 12 and extends the full length of the needle, while the shorter section 26 extends from a flattened forward end 22 spaced rearwardly of the point 12 to the blunt end 14 of the needle.

The two sections 18, 20 are pivotally joined together by a pivot pin 24 near the blunt end 14 so as to form a pair of pivotal jaws 21 extending from adjacent the blunt end to the pivot pin. The needle is split so that the resulting sections include a pair of jaw parting surfaces 26 extending from the blunt end 14 to a position rearwardly adjacent the pivot pin 24, and a pair of shank parting surfaces 28 disposed at right angles to the jaw parting surfaces and extending from the jaw parting surfaces to the forward end 22 of the shorter section 20. The jaw parting surfaces are disposed generally parallel to the axis of the pivot pin 24. The pivot pin passes through the laterally fiat but longitudinally curved shank parting surfaces in a direction substantially normal thereto at the point of intersection, whereby the lateral separation and registration of the long shank arms of the sections, forward of the pivot pin, causes the shorter jaws to open and close. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, lateral separation of the shank parting surfaces effects the longitudinal separation of the jaw parting surfaces.

The shank arms of the two sections, because they are considerably longer than the jaws 21, serve as lever arm extensions of the latter by means of which a great amount of leverage may be applied for closing the jaws against a length of thread.

i As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, the jaw parting surfaces 26 are provided with means for gripping an end of a strand of fascia-lata tissue or other thread 30. Such gripping means include transversely extending ridges 32 on the jaw parting surfaces, which are. blunted and arranged in alternate rows on opposed jaws so as to interengage when the jaws are closed. Such ridges, therefore, grip securely rather than penetrate tissue placed within the jaws.

As will be evident from the enlarged view of FIG. 11, the jaw parting surfaces 26 are canted slightly toward one another in a direction toward the extremity of the blunt end 14 to assure that at least the outer portion of the jaw surfaces nearest the blunt end extremity will securely grip a thread placed within such jaws, even when, through inadvertence, the thread is not inserted so as to extend the full length of the jaw surfaces. If, on the contrary, the opposed jaw surfaces were canted in the opposite direction, either purposely or as a result of permanent deformation of formerly parallel jaw surfaces after long usage, a thread would not be securely gripped by such jaws unless it were inserted fully within the jaws.

Despite the large amount of leverage which can be applied for closing the jaws, the thickness of the fascialata tissue is such that the jaws must be closed with the aid of a pair of forceps, such as the forceps 34 of FIG. 6. The forceps include, among other features described below, fiat gripping surfaces 36 which engage opposite sides of the shank arms 18, 20 so that the forceps may be used to squeeze the arms, and thus the jaws, together. A detent locking means for locking the shank sections together includes a projection 38 from one shank parting surface 28 and a mating recess 40 in the opposed shank parting surface "adjacent the forward end 22 of the shorter section 20. As clearly shown in FIG. 4, each of the shank parting surfaces 28 are provided with such a projection 38 and an interlocking recess 40. Each projection 38 extends outwardly from its respective surface 28 in a direction opposite the direction of closing thereof and its respective section, as indicated by the arrows 42, so that when the sections are closed together each projection 38 presents a camming surface 44 to the opposite section. This camming surface allows the projections to ride over the oncoming edge of the opposed section as the sections are closed together, rather than to catch on such edge. The opposed parting surfaces 28 are spread apart slightly and momentarily by the projections as the sections close together untll the pro ections register with their respective mating recesses.

However, the sections cannot be spread apart in a like manner once they are locked together because each projection, in the direction of opening thereof, is inclined so that it catches on an inclined wall of the recess it engages. Thus the sections 18, 20 cannot be laterally separated without first lifting each projection out of its respective recess. Preferably the metal of the needle sections is sufiiciently rigid, however, and the line of separation between them so slight as to prevent the surfaces of the sections from being separated by hand. The partting tool or forceps previously mentioned must be used for this purpose.

With reference to FIG. 6, the parting tool or pair of forceps 34 has a gripping portion 35 including flat nner gripping surface :portions 36 and opposed concave mner surface recessed portions 46. One of the concave surfaces is provided with an inwardly extending, wedge shaped projection 48. An edge portion of each of the shank parting surfaces 28, adjacent the detent means, 1s provided with a small depression 50, shown in FIG. 2, so that when the sections are closed together, as shown in FIG. 1, there is a slight gap formed by the depressions 50 between the opposed surfaces 28. This gap permits the introduction of the wedge shaped pro ection 48 of the forceps 34 between the parting surfaces 28. As shown in FIG. 7, the jaws of the needle are unlocked by seating the shank 16 of the needle in the concave portion 46 of the forceps with the wedge shaped projection 48 projecting into the gap between parting surfaces 28of the shank. Then the forceps are squeezed together to force the wedge shaped projection 48 in- Wardly between the surfaces 28 as far as possible, thereby spreading such surfaces apart longitudinally to an extent such that each projection 38 is lifted out of its respective recess. Then, with the needle held securely in one hand and the forceps still squeezed together in the other, the forceps are given a slight twist in the direction of opening of the sections, indicated by the arrows 52 of FIG. 7, to thereby spread the sections 18, 20 and their parting surfaces laterally apart a sufficient distance to displace laterally the projections 38 from interlocking alignment with their corresponding recesses. When this occurs, the needle may be removed from the forceps, and the sections 18 and 20 can be opened the rest of the way by hand. Twisting of the lever arms of the sections in the wrong direction is prevented by the closed jaws and by the fact that the flat, forward end surface 22 of the shorter arm and the mating end surface of the longer arm extend at an oblique angle transversely of the needle so as to serve as a stop.

FIG. 5 illustrates a section through a needle having a modified detent means similar to that shown in FIG. 4 but having only a single projection 54 from one parting surface only, and a single mating recess 56 in the opposed parting surface. The manner of locking and unlocking the two sections remains the same as previously described with respect to the needle of FIGS. 1 and 4. In either the form of FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 the detent means is provided adjacent the forward ends of the sections so that a continuing leverage and thus a continuous gripping pressure is applied to the thread when the jaws are closed.

With reference to FIG. 8, a further modification of curved surgical needle 58 is shown, which is similar in shape and construction to the needle 10 of FIG. 1 except that the needle 58 is split into a pair of shank sections 60, 61 such that the shank parting surfaces are flat, whereas the shank parting surfaces 28 of the needle 10 follow the curvature of the needle. That is, relative to the curvatures of the needles, the shank parting surfaces of the needle 58 are disposed at right angles to the corresponding parting surfaces of the needle 10. The needle 53 of FIG. 8 is otherwise the same in construction and operation as the needle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 illustrates a further modification comprising a needle 64 having a straight shank 66, but otherwise being identical in operation and construction to the needles of FIGS. 1 and 8. The straight needle 64 is better suited to general rather than surgical use, such as rug making or other general sewing in which a heavy thread is required.

FIG. 10 illustrates a lateral section through the jaw portion of a further modification of the needle in accordance with the present invention. The general configuration of the needle may be as illustrated in either of FIGS. 1, 8 or 9. However, the needle of FIG. 10 has jaw sections 68 the surface portions 70 of which are concave laterally to provide, when the jaw sections are closed, an interior housing which encloses a thread placed therein. Each of the surfaces is provided with a plurality of thread gripping projections 72 which are slightly blunted and alternately disposed on vopposite surfaces in order to prevent piercing of the thread held therebetween.

Having illustrated and described some preferred em bodiments of the invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention permits of further modification in arrangement and detail. I claim as my invention all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A needle comprising:

(a) a pointed end portion,

(b) a blunt opposite end portion,

(c) a thickened shank tapering gradually from said blunt end portion to said pointed end portion,

(d) said shank being split longitudinally into two sections of unequal length,

(e) the shorter of said sections extending from the extremity of said blunt end portion to an opposite forward end rearwardly adjacent said pointed end portion, whereby said other, longer one of said sections includes the entire said pointed end portion,

(f) said sections being pivotally connected together at a position substantially closer to said blunt end than to said forward end of said shorter section,

(g) said sections having a first pair of parting surfaces extending from said blunt end to a position rear wardly adjacent said pivotal axis, and a second pair of inwardly opposed parting surfaces normal to said t first parting surfaces and said pivotal axis, and extending from said first parting surfaces to said forward end of said shorter section,

(h) said shank sections rearward of said pivotal axis,

including said first parting surfaces, defining a pair of jaws which open and close in correspondence with the lateral separation and registration of said shank sections forward of said pivotal axis, including said second parting surfaces,

(i) said first parting surfaces including gripping means for securely gripping a length of thread placed therebetween when said jaws are closed,

(j) said second parting surfaces having cooperative detent means adjacent said forward end of said shorter section and operable upon the lateral registration of said shank sections for locking said jaws in a closed position,

(k) said detent means including a projection from one of said second parting surfaces and a complementary recess in the other thereof which interlocks with said projection when said sections are in register with one another.

2. A needle comprising:

(a) a blunt end portion,

(b) a pointed opposite end portion,

(c) a curved shank tapering gradually from said blunt end portion to said pointed end portion,

(d) said shank being split longitudinally from said blunt end into two sections,

(e) one of said sections being longer than the other thereof and including the entire said pointed end portion,

(f) a pivot pin pivotally joining said sections together intermediate the ends thereof,

(g) said sections including a first pair of parting surfaces extending between said blunt end and said pivot pin and generally parallel to the pivotal axis of said pin so that said sections rearward of said pin define a pair of thread gripping jaws,

(h) said sections including a second pair of parting surfaces disposed at right angles to said first parting surfaces and extending between said pivot pin and said pointed end portion, such that the lateral opening and closing of said sections forward of said pivotal axis causes the opening and closing of said aws,

(i) said second parting surfaces including cooperative detent means,

(j) said detent means including a projection from one of said second surfaces, the opposite said surface having a recess therein for interlocking with said projection,

(k) said projection, in the directions of closure of said sections, presenting a camming surface, to enable the closure of said sections together manually and the interlocking of said projection and recess,

(1) the interlocking surfaces of said projection and depression being inclined outwardly from their respective parting surfaces in a direction opposite the direction of opening of their respective sections so as to prevent the lateral separation of said sections without first spreading apart said second parting surfaces to lift said projection from said recess, said sections having sufficient rigidity forward of said axis to prevent the spreading apart of said second parting surfaces by hand,

(in) at least one of said second parting surfaces having a depression in an edge portion thereof adjacent said detent means, so as to present a gap between said second parting surfaces when said surfaces are in register sufiicient to permit the entry of a wedge shaped projection of a parting tool for parting said surfaces and thereby enabling the opening of said jaws.

3. A sewing needle Comprising:

(a) a pointed end portion,

(b) a blunt opposite end portion,

(0) said blunt end portion including a jaw portion for gripping a length of thread,

(d) a shank extending from said jaw portion to said pointed end portion, said shank being of substantially greater length than said jaw portion,

(e) said needle being split longitudinally into two sec tions from the extremity of said blunt end portion throughout substantially the entire length of said shank,

(f) said sections being pivotally joined together adjacent said jaw portion,

(g) the parting surfaces of said sections in said jaw portion being normal to the parting surfaces of said sections in said shank such that the lateral separation of the shank parting surfaces effects a longitudinal opening of the jaw parting surfaces,

(h) said shank parting surfaces adjacent said pointed end portion having cooperative detent means for locking said sections together,

(i) said detent means including a projection from one of said parting surfaces and a complementary recess in the opposed parting surface,

(j) said projection being pointed in the lateral direction of opening of said one shank parting surface, and said mating recess being shaped to receive and interlock with said projection upon the registration of said shank parting surfaces to an extent such that said shank parting surfaces cannot be laterally separated without first spreading apart longitudinally said same surfaces,

(k) at least one of said shank parting surfaces having a slight depression therein along one longitudinal edge thereof to present a gap between said shank surfaces when said surfaces are in registration, whereby a wedge shaped projection of a parting tool may be inserted in said gap for spreading apart said shank surfaces and opening said jaws.

4. A needle according to claim 1 wherein said shank is curved from said blunt end to said pointed end, and said second parting surfaces follow the curvature of said shank longitudinally of said needle but are relatively flat laterally of said needle.

5. A needle according to claim 1 wherein said shank is curved smoothly from said blunt end to said pointed end, and said second parting surfaces are substantially flat throughout their longitudinal and lateral extents.

6. A needle according to claim 1 wherein said jaw parting surfaces are concavely curved in a direction laterally of said needle, said surfaces being provided with inwardly projecting, blunt teeth arranged alternately on opposite jaw surfaces.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 299,305 5/1884 Weed 128-339 X 940,682 11/ 1909 Germany 128-339 X 951,459 3/1910 Shupe 223-102 X 1,106,439 8/1914 Conne 815.1 1,588,352 6/ 1926 Grosvenor 815.1 X 1,678,361 7/1928 Shearon 128339 2,297,765 10/ 1942 Hoover 815.1 2,581,564 1/ 1952 Villegas 128-339 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. 

1. A NEEDLE COMPRISING: (A) A POINTED END PORTION, (B) A BLUNT OPPOSITE END PORTION, (C) A THICKENED SHANK TAPERING GRADUALLY FROM SAID BLUNT END PORTION TO SAID POINTED END PORTION, (D) SAID SHANK BEING SPLIT LONGITUDINALLY INTO TWO SECTIONS OF UNEQUAL LENGTH, (E) THE SHORTER OF SAID SECTIONS EXTENDING FROM THE EXTREMITY OF SAID BLUNT END PORTION TO AN OPPOSITE FORWARD END REARWARDLY ADJACENT SAID POINTED END PORTION, WHEREBY SAID OTHER, LONGER ONE OF SAID SECTIONS INCLUDES THE ENTIRE SAID POINTED END PORTION, (F) SAID SECTIONS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TOGETHER AT A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSER TO SAID BLUNT END THAN TO SAID FORWARD END OF SAID SHORTER SECTION, (G) SAID SECTIONS HAVING A FIRST PAIR OF PARTING SURFACES EXTENDING FROM SAID BLUNT END TO A POSITION REARWARDLY ADJACENT SAID PIVOTAL AXIS, AND A SECOND PAIR OF INWARDLY OPPOSED PARTING SURFACES NORMAL TO SAID FIRST PARTING SURFACES AND SAID PIVOTAL AXIS, AND EXTENDING FROM SAID FIRST PARTING SURFACES TO SAID FORWARD END OF SAID SHORTER SECTION, (H) SAID SHANK SECTIONS REARWARD OF SAID PIVOTAL AXIS, INCLUDING SAID FIRST PARTING SURFACES, DEFINING A PAIR OF JAWS WHICH OPEN AND CLOSE IN CORRESPONDING WITH THE LATERAL SEPARATION AND REGISTRATION OF SAID SHANK SECTIONS FORWARD OF SAID PIVOTAL AXIS, INCLUDING SAID SECOND PARTING SURFACES, (I) SAID FIRST PARTING SURFACES INCLUDING GRIPPING MEANS FOR SECURELY GRIPPING A LENGTH OF THREAD PLACED THEREBETWEEN WHEN SAID JAWS ARE CLOSED, (J) SAID SECOND PARTING SURFACES HAVING COOPERATIVE DETENT MEANS ADJACENT SAID FORWARD END OF SAID SHORTER SECTION AND OPERABLE UPON THE LATERAL REGISTRATION OF SAID SHANK SECTIONS FOR LOCKING SAID JAWS IN A CLOSED POSITION, (K) SAID DETENT MEANS INCLUDING A PROJECTION FROM ONE OF SAID SECOND PARTING SURFACES AND A COMPLEMENTARY RECESS IN THE OTHER THEREOF WHICH INTERLOCKS WITH SAID PROJECTION WHEN SAID SECTIONS ARE IN REGISTER WITH ONE ANOTHER. 